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Erasure

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Erasure is an English synth-pop duo that began in London in 1985. Vince Clarke already had a remarkable career behind him. He co-founded Depeche Mode and wrote their breakthrough hit Just Can't Get Enough, and then formed the duo Yazoo with Alison Moyet. For a new project he placed an advertisement in the magazine Melody Maker. The singer Andy Bell from Peterborough responded and was chosen. Clarke was his hero.

Music and breakthrough

The first three singles and the debut album Wonderland (1986) did little in England. That changed with the fourth single, Sometimes, which reached number 2 at the end of 1986. A long run of hits followed, such as Victim of Love, Ship of Fools, A Little Respect, Stop!, Blue Savannah, Chorus and Always. The Innocents (1988) was the first of five English number 1 albums in a row. With the EP Abba-esque (1992), four ABBA covers, they had their first number 1 single, and the video with the duo in ABBA outfits helped set off the ABBA revival of the 1990s. In 1989 Erasure received the Brit Award for best British group.

Influence

Erasure's music is cheerful, melodic electronic pop. Clarke makes the sounds with synthesizers, Bell sings the melody. They name OMD, Kraftwerk, Gloria Gaynor and ABBA as influences. Between 1986 and 2007, 24 singles in a row reached the English top 40. After 2000 too, the duo kept making records together.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Sometimes and notice the acoustic guitar that comes through between the synthesizers. Hear how the song nevertheless remains clearly synth-pop, with Andy Bell's vocals up front.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists